Musical instrument with mechanical radiating means



Feb. 2, 1965 F. P. M. BASCHET 3,167,994

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MECHANICAL RADIATING MEANS Filed June 10, 1963 United States Patent Ofitice 3,167,994 Y MU'eICAL ENSTRUMENT wirn MECHANICAL namArlNo MEANS rancois Pierre Maurice Baschet, 38 Rue iioiieau,

Paris, France Filed June It 1963, Ser. No. 286,542 Claims priority, appiication France, Mar. 12, 1957, 733,963 8 Claims. ((31. 84-=4d4) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 720,685, now Patent No. 3,10l,622, which was filed March ll, i958, and directed to a compound musical instrument.

The object of my invention is an instrument producing musical sounds having a new timbre and quality of tone.

The present invention has for its object a musical instrument comprising a metal carrier bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations composed of metallic rods one end of which is rigidly connected to said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the connecting point thereof, said carrier bar having a mass such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial shifting in space under the action of vibrations imparted thereto by said generators, said generators when set in vibratory motion imparting to said carrier bar vibrations corresponding to the tuned frequency thereof, at least one large radiating nontuned element or means of substantially rigid material engaging said carrier bar so as to transform the vibrations imparted thereto into sounds and radiating same into the atmosphere, and means for imparting vibrations to said generators of tuned vibrations.

According to another feature of the present invention, the large radiating nontuned elements or means is each made from a thin metal sheet or a plasticized carboard sheet and has a substantially conical shape.

According to another feature of the present invention, the large radiating elements or means of substantially conical shape have a directrix of noncircular configuration and generating lines of a variable length.

According to still another feature of the present invention, the vibration-imparting means includes a rod member having a frictional coefficient similar to that of glass which engages each metallic rod in a substantially perpendicular direction so that when the rod member is longitudinally energized or rubbed, the corresponding metallic rod is set into vibratory motion.

According to still another feature of the present invention, the vibration-imparting means includes a percussion member adapted to strike said generators to set same into vibratory motion.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying draiings given by way of example and by no means in a binding sense. In said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an instrument of the percussion type;

FIGURE 2 is a View of a detail of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an instrument comprising vibration-imparting means constituted by a rod member.

The musical instrument illustrated in FIG. 1 is constituted by a mounting means including two opposite pedestals carrying, on the one hand, the actual musical instrument and, on the other hand, the means for striking the latter. The two opposite pedestals 1 (only one being shown so as not to clutter the drawings) forming the mounting means are rigid with two aligned metal brackets 2 carrying a vertical spindle 3 also made of metal. Over said spindle are fitted washers 4 and 5 (FIG. 2) which are preferably made, respectively, of soft wood and of lead so as to form vibration-absorbing means.

3,1673% Patented Feb. 2, 1%65 An upper washer 6 of smaller diameter is fitted between the spindle 3 and the bore provided at one end of a flat iron member 7 forming the carrier bar of the instrument resting on the washers 4 and 5. Diderent means may be provided for securing the carrier bar to the pedestal while ensuring however a suitable insulation so as to transmit a vibratory energy reduced to a minimum from the carrier bar to the pedestal.

in the carrier bar 7 there are fitted parallel metal rods 8 of which the lengths are selected so that each of them vibrates at a predetermined frequency. In the case of a musical instrument adapted to play pieces of music written on a conventional scale, each rod is tuned so as to vibrate at the frequency of a note of said scale, but it is also possible to select any other desired scale of frequencies. Said rods are consequently considered as tuned, which means that each rod vibrates at a predetermined frequency without said frequency being necessari'y a frequency forming part of a diatonic or chromatic scale.

To the carrier bar 7 there are furthermore secured metal supports such as angle members 9 the upstanding sections of which have apertures therein through which rods 10 pass. The inner ends of rods 10 are threaded so as to receive nuts 11 on each side of carrier bar 7 or by any other suitable means, whereby they are rigidly secured to the flat carrier bar 7. At their outer ends, the rods 16 are rigidly connected to the apices of the corresponding radiating nontuned elements or means 12, each being made from a thin metal sheet or a plasticized sheet of cardboard. Each element is substantially conical and has a directrix of a noncircular shape and generating lines of different lengths.

The striking means comprise hammers 13 each being carried in registry with the corresponding metal rod 8 by a bell crank lever 14. All the bell crank levers 14 are pivotally carried at their apices by a common carrier spindle 15. Levers 16, the number of which corresponds with that of the bell crank levers 14, are furthermore pivotally carried by a common carrier spindle 17 parallel with spindle 15. Each of levers 16 forms at one end an engaging key 18 which is similar to a piano key, while the other end forms a lever arm 19 on which rests a pusher member 20 cooperating with the arm of the bell crank lever 14 facing away from the arm-carrying hammer 13.

Upon depression of a key 18, the corresponding hammer 13 strikes the rod 8 which starts vibrating at its natural frequency. The vibratory energy is transmitted through the carrier bar 7, the members 9 and the rods 10 to the conical surfaces of radiating elements 12 which transform said vibratory energy into audible vibrations which are then propagated into the atmosphere.

The musical instrument illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a frame or trestle 21 comprising an assembly of fiat me tallic bars welded or connected together and carrying by means of ropes or similar elements 22, 23, 24, of which some may be elastic, a flat metallic member 25 forming the carrier bar. Said flat member 25 is provided with a plurality of tapped holes inside of which threaded bars 26 are screwed, each of said oars being locked in position by a nut .27. On each threaded bar 26 is fitted a plate 28 forming a counterweight and held fast at an adjustable point of said threaded bar 26 by nuts 29 disposed on each side thereof. Said counterweights 28 are adapted to adjust in accordance with the different lengths of the corresponding bars 26 the natural frequency of vibration of said bars with a view to tuning them, Each bar carries furthermore a metal plate 31 held fast therein between two nuts 39. Plate 31 is somewhat elastic and terminates with a sleeve 32 inside which is fitted the end of a glass rod 33 or a rod of material which has a coeficient of friction similar to that of glass.

To the flat metallic member 25 there is secured, by

means of nuts 34, a rod 35 projecting beyond the surface of the fiat metallic member facing away from the bars 26. The outer end of rod 35 is secured to the apex of a conically shaped radiating element or means 36 made from a thin metal sheet or of plasticized cardboard. The substantially conical surface of the radiating element 36 has a directrix of a noncircular shape and generating lines of different lengths.

The playing of said instrument is performed by longitudinally rubbing with ones fingers the rod 33 which starts the corresponding bar 26 vibrating at its natural frequency. The vibratory energy is transmitted by the carrier bar 25 and the rod 35 to the surface of radiating element 36 which transforms said energy into audible vibrations which are propagated into the air.

What I claim is:

1. A musical instrument comprising a metal carrier bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations including metal rods one end of each being rigidly connected to said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the connecting point thereof, said carrier bar having a mass such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial shifting in space under the action of the vibrations imparted thereto by said generators, said generators when set in vibratory motion imparting to said carrier bar vibrations corresponding to the tuned vibrations thereof, at least one large radiating nontuned means of substantially rigid material engaging said carrier bar for transforming the vibrations thereof into sound and radiating same into the atmosphere, and means for imparting vibrations to said generators of tuned vibrations.

2. A musical instrument comprising a metal carrier bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations including metal rods one end ofeach being rigidly connected to said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the connecting point thereof, said carrier bar having a mass such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial shifting in space under the action of the vibrations imparted thereto by said generators, said generators when set in vibratory motion imparting to said carrier bar vibrations corresponding to the tuned frequency thereof, at least one large metallic radiating nontuned means engaging said carrier bar for transforming the vibrations thereof into sound and radiating same into the atmosphere, and means for imparting vibrations to said generators of tuned vibrations.

3. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said vibration-imparting means includes a rod member having a frictional coefiicient similar to that of glass engaging each metal rod in a substantially transverse direction so that when the rod member is rubbed longitudinally, the corresponding metal rod is set into vibratory motion.

4. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said vibration-imparting means includes a percussion member adapted to strike said generators to set same into vibratory motion.

5. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said radiating means is made from metal.

6. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said radiating means is made from plasticized cardboard.

7. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said radiating means has a substantially conical configuration.

8. A musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said radiating means has a directrix of noncircular configuration and generating lines of a variable length.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,004,620 10/61 Baschet 84-410X 3,101,022 8/63 Baschet 84404 LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner. 

1. A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A METAL CARRIER BAR, A PLURALITY OF GENERATORS OF TUNED VIBRATIONS INCLUDING METAL RODS ONE END OF EACH BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER BAR SO AS TO HAVE A NODE OF VIBRATION AT THE CONNECTING POINT THEREOF, SAID CARRIER BAR HAVING A MASS SUCH THAT IT IS INCAPABLE OF UNDERGOING ANY SUBSTANTIAL SHIFTING IN SPACE UNDER THE ACTION OF THE VIBRATIONS IMPARTED THERETO BY SAID GENERATORS, SAID GENERATORS WHEN SET IN VIBRATORY MOTION IMPARTING TO SAID CARRIER BAR VIBRATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE TUNED VIBRATIONS THEREOF, AT LEAST ONE LARGE RADIATING NONTUNED MEANS OF SUBSTANTIALLY 